Latitude and Longitude representations

 As most of us know latitude and longitude help us notate a place uniquely on earth.

There are basically three ways in which one can represent Latitude and Longitude.

1. In Degrees 
       The way Google,yahoo,Facebook API's Use.
           Ex: +40.7486, -77.8786

2. Degree Minutes and Seconds.

           Ex: 40` 44' 55''N,
3. Degree Minutes.
           Ex: 40`44',


In the First  Degrees notation + indicates it as North (for Latitude) or East ( for Longitude).
and - indicates that it is either at South (for Latitude) orWest (for Longitude)

Lets take a quick look at conversion from Format 1 to Format 2 and vice-versa.

From Format 1 to Format 2


1.  Lets convert this 40.7486 to Degree-Minuute- Seconds Format

         40.7486 degree => 40 Degree +0.7486 Degree.

                                         As we know that 1 Degree = 60 Minutes it becomes 

                                   =>  40 Degree+0.7486*60 Minutes
                                    => 40 Degree+ 44.916 Minutes                    (Resembles our Format 3)

                                          As we also know that 1 Minute = 60 Seconds it becomes

                                    =>  40 Degree+44 Minutes+0.916 *60 Seconds
                                     => 40 Degree+44 Minute+   54.96Sceonds

                                    =>40`44'55''

From Format 2 to Format1

         40`44'55"      => 40 Degree +44 Minutes+55 Seconds.

                                         As we know that 1 Minute = 60 Seconds it becomes 

                                   =>  40 Degree+44 Minutes+55/60 Minutes
                                    => 40 Degree+ 44.916Minutes                    (Resembles our Format 3)

                                          As we also know that 1 Minute = 60 Degree

                                    =>  40 Degree+44.916/60                                      => 40 Degree+0.7486 Degree
                                    =>40.7486